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jfree IReltgious association 



Souvenir 
Festival Hymns 




BOSTON 

FREE RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATION 
1899 



TV A -3 



Press of James H. West Co., Publishers 
Boston, 1899 



Souvenir festival 1b£mns 



Note. 

It has been a common prejudice that the 
graces of Art, the charms of Song, belong 
especially to the old mythologic forms of 
faith. But everything in its time was new, 
and it is the young, fresh life of freedom and 
love that sings most rapturously. So Free 
Religion, while not casting away old songs 
which still express the universal thought, has 
felt the need of its own expression. 

At the yearly Festival of the Free Religious 
Association it has been the custom to sing 
hymns adapted to our broad, liberal views. 



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Many of these were written especially for 
these occasions ; some of them have already 
been published in other collections ; but we 
feel that those actually written for or sung at 
our Festivals will form a welcome Souvenir 
of these occasions devoted to our Third pur- 
pose — developing " fellowship in the spirit." 
Such a collection may also lead in the future 
to a larger collection of songs which express 
the freest religion in the sweetest strains. 

E. D. C. 



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Contents. 

PAGE 

" The Goodly Fellowship of the Prophets " 

F. L. Hosmer n 

" Oh, How I Love Thy Law " 

John W. Chadwick 14- 

" Consider the Lilies, how they Grow ! " . . 

Wm. C. Gannett 17 

" The Light which Lighteth every Man " . 

Samuel Longfellow 20 

The Glory that Remains . Wm. C. Gannett 22 

E Pluribus Unum . . . Ednak D. Cheney 26 

Light D. A. Wasson 29 

In Memoriam Wm. C. Gannett 31 



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PAGE 

Apple-Blossoms .... Ednak D. Cheney 34 

Our October Supper . . . F. M. Holland 36 

"Watchman, What of the Night?" . . . 

Samuel Longfellow 38 

Past, Present, Future . . . . T. L. Harris 40 

A Hymn F. M. Holland 42 

Free Religious Welcome Ednak D. Cheney 44 

The Law of Liberty . . John W. Chadwick 46 

Life of Ages Samuel Johnson 49 

Raphael's Saint Cecilia at Bologna . . . 

Julia Ward Howe 52 

Festival Mottoes 55-6o 

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Festival Hymns 



"The Goodly Fellowship of the 
Prophets." 

Tune,—" Hummel." 

FROM age to age the prophets rise, 
Still in unbroken line ; 
Above the passing centuries 
Like beacon-lights they shine. 



jfree IReligious association 



Through difFering accents of the lip 
One message they proclaim ; 

One growing bond of fellowship, 
Above all names, one Name. 

They witness to one heritage, 
One Spirit's quickening breath ; 

One widening reign, from age to age, 
Of freedom and of faith. 

Their kindling power our souls confess ; 

Though dead they speak to-day : 
How great the cloud of witnesses 

Encompassing our way ! 



Souvenir JFeattval Ibgmns 



Through every race, in every clime, 
One song shall yet be heard : 

Move onward in thy course sublime, 
O everlasting Word ! 

— F. L. Hosmer. 

Written for Festival, F. R. A., 
June 2, 1899. 



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" Oh, How I Love Thy Law." 

Tune,— " Auld Lang Syne." 

FATHER, we come not as of old, 
Distrustful of Thy Law, 
Hoping to find Thy seamless robe 
Marred by some sudden flaw, — 
Some rent to let Thy glory through 

And make our darkness shine, 
If haply thus our souls may know 
What power and grace are Thine. 

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Thy seamless robe conceals Thee not 

From earnest hearts and true ; 
The glory of Thy perfectness 

Shines all its texture through ; 
And on its trailing hem we read, 

As Thou dost linger near, 
The message of a love more deep 

Than any depth of fear. 

And so no more our hearts shall plead 

For miracle and sign, 
Thy order and Thy faithfulness 

Are all in all divine : 



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These are Thy revelation vast 
From earliest days of yore, 

These are our confidence and peace, — 
We cannot wish for more. 



—John W. Chadwick. 



May 30, 1873. 




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"Consider the Lilies, how they 
Grow ! " 

Tune,—" Missionary Hymn." 

I* 9 

HE hides within the lily 
A strong and tender care 
That wins the earth-born atoms 

To glory of the air ; 
He weaves the shining garments 

Unceasingly and still, 
Along the quiet waters, 
In niches of the hill. 

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JFree IReUaious Bssociatfon 



We linger at the vigil 

With him who bent the knee 
To watch the old-time lilies 

In distant Galilee ; 
And still the worship deepens 

And quickens into new, 
As brightening down the ages 

God's secret thrilleth through. 

O Toiler of the lily, 

Thy touch is in the Man ! 
No leaf that dawns to petal 

But hints the angel-plan. 
The flower-horizons open ! 

The blossom vaster shows ! 



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Souvenir festival limits 



We hear Thy wide worlds echo, — 
See how the lily grows ! 

Shy yearnings of the savage, 

Unfolding thought by thought, 
To holy lives are lifted, 

To visions fair are wrought ; 
The races rise and cluster, 

Transfigurations fall, 
Man's chaos blooms to beauty, 

Thy purpose crowning all ! 

— William C. Gannett* 

May 30, 1873. 



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" The Light which Lighteth 



LIFE that maketh all things new, — 



V«y The blooming earth, the thoughts 
of men ! 

Our pilgrim feet, wet with thy dew, 

In gladness hither turn again. 
From hand to hand the greeting flows, 

From eye to eye the signals run, 
From heart to heart the bright hope glows ; 

The lovers of the Light are one. 




Tune,—" Sweet Hour of Prayer.' 




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Souvenir festival IbEmns 



One in the freedom of the Truth, 

One in the joy of paths untrod, 
One in the soul's perennial youth, 

One in the larger thought of God ; 
The freer step, the fuller breath, 

The wide horizon's grander view, 
The sense of life that knows no death, 

The Life that maketh all things new. 

— Samuel Longfellow. 

May 29, 1874. 




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3Free IReltgtous Besociatton 



The Glory that Remains. 

"If that which is done away was glorious, 
much more that which remaineth is glorious. 9 9 

Tune ,— " Autumn . ' ' 

FAIRER grows the earth each morning 
To the eyes that watch aright ; 
Every vision is a dawning 

Of some marvel come to light, 



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Of some unsuspected glory 

Waiting in the old and plain ; 

Traveler ne'er told the story 
Of such wonders as remain. 

As we seek — the quest is duty — 

Inward toward the heart of things, 
Everywhere the gate called Beauty 

Fresh across the pathway swings ; 
And we enter, foolish mortals, 

Thinking now His throne to find, 
Just to gaze on grander portals, — 

Still the Temple lies behind ! 



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Jfree IReliQious Bssociation 



O my miracles ! you flowers, 

Laughing secrets in my eyes ! 
Well I know the Heavenly Powers 

Hide from me your best surprise. 
O dear brothers 'neath the flowers, 

Glory that was torn away ! 
Vanished faces light these hours 

More than all the shining May. 

Faith I love ! I love you deeper 
That to lose you would be gain ; 

Seed may perish, if the reaper 
Comes home singing after pain. 



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All our creeds are hinting only 
Of a Faith of nobler strain, — 

God is living ! Who feels lonely 
With the glories that remain ? 

— William C. Gannett. 

Sung at the Social Donation Festival, 
May 29, 1874, 



JFree IReltgtous Besoctation 



E Pluribus Unum. 

Tune,—" Marlow." 

MANY in one, our fathers said, 
Many in one, say we ; 
Of different creeds, of differing forms, 
Love brings us unity. 



Let Science scan the open page 
Of sky and sea and land, 



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Souvenir festival 1b£tnns 



And tell the secrets written there 
By Time's mysterious hand. 

Let Art reveal the inner thought 
In Nature's forms of grace, 

And feel God's presence everywhere, 
See everywhere his face. 

Let Faith attune the hidden strings 
That Science cannot sound, 

And Future, Past and Present bind 
In one harmonious round. 



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jfree IReltgious Bssociatton 



From each, from all, may life outflow, 

To each and all flow in : 
It needs us all to swell the chords 

Of life's triumphant hymn. 



Social Donation Festival, F. R. A., 
June I, 1877 ; 
and October, 1884. 



Ednah D. Cheney. 




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Souvenir festival 1b£mna 



Light. 

Tune,—" Old Hundred." 

HAIL to the sun that never sets, 
But holds its heavenly place for aye, 
And in the soul of man begets, 
Age after age, a growing day ! 

Hail to the light that is the same 

For Christian, Paynim, Jew, and Greek, 

And, varying not with various names, 
Is light for all that truly seek ! 



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Blow, winds of thought ! to clear our skies 
That vex the light with darkening change ! 

No more let clouds the day disguise, 
No more man's heart to man be strange. 

— D. A. Wasson. 

Social Donation Festival, F. R. A., 
June i, 1877. 




Souvenir festival Ibgmns 



In Memoriam. 

<( Green Pastures and Still Waters." 

CLEAR in memory's silent reaches 
Lie the pastures I have seen, 
Greener than the sun-lit spaces 

Where the May has flung her green : 
Needs no sun and needs no star-light 

To illume these fields of mine, 
For the glory of dead faces 

Is the sun, the stars, that shine. 



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afree IReltgfous association 



More than one I count my pastures 

As my life-path groweth long ; 
By their quiet waters straying 

Oft I lay me, and am strong. 
And I call each by its giver ; 

And the dear names bring to them 
Glory as from shining faces 

In some new Jerusalem. 

Yet, O well I can remember, 

Once I called my pastures, Pain ; 

And the waters were a torrent 
Sweeping through my life amain ! 

Now I call them Peace and Stillness, 
Brightness of all Happy Thought, 



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Where I linger for a blessing 
From my faces that are naught. 

Naught r I know not. If the Power 

Maketh thus his pastures green, 
Maketh thus his quiet waters, 

Out of waste, his heavens serene, 
I can trust the mighty Chemist 

Of the May-lands and the soul, 
And the faces of my dead ones 

Pledge no waste within the Whole ! 

— William C, Gannett. 

Festival, F. R. A., 
at Parker Memorial Meeting-House, 
May 27, 1881, 
and June 1, 1877. 

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JFree IReUgious association 



l \ Blossoms in the sun of May, 
Yet long months must work and wait 
Till it bear its precious freight, 
Till the golden fruit appear, 
Noblest harvest of the year,— 



Apple - Blossoms. 




S the apple-tree to-day 



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Souvenir JFestwal fJsmne 



So to-day we sing our song, 
Speak our word ; but, waiting long, 
Rain and sunshine meet our need, 
Thought shall ripen into deed, 
Love, with faith and beauty rife, 
Slowly bring, the fruits of life. 

— Ednah Z). Cheney. 

May 27, 1881, 
and May 28, 1885. 




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jfree IReltglous Bssociatton 



Our October Supper. 

CREEDS and ceremonies perish, 
Fallen leaves that must decay : 
Ours the living Truth to cherish ; 
She can never pass away. 



Freedom holds her firm dominion 
In this land of equal rights : 

Science spreads her mighty pinion 
Every day for higher flights. 



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Souvenir jfesttval Ibgmns 



Faith in Man grows stronger, clearer, 
As we see our neighbors' worth : 

Duty's ancient laws are dearer ; 
New ones have their holy birth. 

Ours co keep this sacred treasure 

Open for the use of all ; 
In the hour of social pleasure 

Hear the Future's bugle-call ! 

— F. M. Holland. 

October, 1884. 



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jfree IRelteious Bssoctation 



" Watchman, what of the 



UT of the dark, the circling sphere 



Is rounding onward to the light : 
We see not yet the full day here, 
But we do see the paling night. 

And Hope, that lights her fadeless fires ; 

And Faith, that shines, a heavenly will ; 
And Love, that courage reinspires, — 

These stars have been above us still. 



Night ? 



Tune,—" Hamburg. 1 




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Souvenir jfesttval Ib^mne 



O sentinels ! whose tread we heard 

Through long hours when we could not 
see, 

Pause now ; exchange with cheer the word, 
The unchanging watchword, Liberty ! 

Look backward, how much has been won ! 

Look round, how much is yet to win ! 
The watches of the night are done : 

The watches of the day begin. 

— Samuel Longfellow. 

December Supper, F. R. A., 
December 10, 1884. 



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ffree IReltetous Bssoctatlon 



Past, Present, Future. 

Tune,— "Russian Hymn." 

O EARTH, thy past is crowned and 
consecrated 
With its reformers, speaking yet, though 
dead ; 

Who unto strife and toil and tears were 
fated, 

Who unto fiery martyrdoms were led. 

O Earth, thy present, too, is crowned with 
splendor 

By its Reformers battling in the strife ; 



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Souvenir festival Ih^mna 



Friends of humanity, stern, strong, and 
tender, 

Making the world more hopeful with 
their life. 

O Earth, thy future shall be great and 
glorious, 

With its Reformers toiling in the van, 
Till Truth and Love shall reign o'er all 
victorious, 

And earth be given to freedom and to 
man. 

— T. L. Harris. 

December Supper, F. R. A., 
December 10, 1884. 



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jfree "Religious Bssoclatlon 



A Hymn. 

Tune,—' ' Antioch. " 

OUR life is full of love and light 
Because our aims are high. 
In Freedom's service we unite : 
Her reign supreme is high. 

Thy growth, O Science, gives us joy ! 

Thy victory is ours ! 
March on, and all thy foes destroy ! 

We bless thy mighty powers. 



Souvenir JFestival Ib^tnns 



No holy sacrament we ken 

Save that of doing good : 
Our faith is in our fellow-men, 

Our creed is brotherhood. 

We love this world of life and light ; 

We drink its gladness in : 
The morning drives away the night, 

And golden days begin ! 

— F. M. Holland. 

May 28, 1885. 



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Free Religious Welcome. 

Tune,— " Coronation." 

TO-NIGHT in full accord we meet, 
With loving hearts and free : 
In equal fellowship we greet, 
In loving charity. 

Bring with you every sacred book, 
The Gods you love and trust, 

The kindling hopes that heavenward look, 
The memories of the just ; 



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Souvenir festival Ibgmns 



The sacred reverence for law, 

The earnest search for truth, 
The lessons that from age we draw, 

The prophecies of youth. 

Come one, come all, who come in love ! 

Our church is wide and free, 
Free as God's glorious heaven above, 

Wide as Humanity ! 

— Ednah D. Cheney. 

May 29, 1896. 



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ffree IRellgious Bssociation 



HOU, whose name is blazoned forth 



1 On our banner's gleaming fold, 
Freedom ! thou whose sacred worth 

Never yet has half been told, 
Often have we sung of thee, 
Dear to us as dear can be. 




Tune,—" Rock of Ages. 1 




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Souvenir ffeetival Dsmna 



But to-night we sing of one 
Older, graver far than thou, 

With the seal of time begun 
Stamped upon her awful brow : 

Freedom, latest born of time, 

K no west thou her form sublime ? 

She is Duty : in her hand 
Is a sceptre heaven-brought ; 

Hers the accent of command, 

Hers the dreadful, mystic Ought : 

Hers upon us all to lay 

Heavier burdens every day. 



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But her bondage is so sweet ! 

And her burdens make us strong ; 
Wings they seem to weary feet, 

Laughter to our lips and song : 
Freedom, make us free to speed 
Wheresoever she may lead. 



— John W. Chadwick. 



May 29, 1896. 




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Souvenir festival fb^mns 



Life of Ages. 

Telemann's Chant. 

LIFE of Ages, richly poured, 
Love of God, unspent and free, 
Flowing in the prophet's word 
And the people's liberty ! 

Never was to chosen race 
That unstinted tide confined ; 



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SFree IReltaious Bssociatton 



Thine is every time and place, 

Fountain sweet of heart and mind. 

Breathing in the thinker's creed, 

Pulsing in the hero's blood, 
Nerving simplest thought and deed, 

Freshening time with truth and good, — 

Consecrating art and song, 

Holy book and pilgrim track ; 

Hurling floods of tyrant wrong 
From the sacred limits back, — 



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Souvenir festival Ibsmne 



Life of Ages, richly poured, 

Love of God, unspent and free, 

Flow still in the prophet's word 
And the people's liberty ! 



— Samuel Johnson. 



Festival, F. R. A., 
May 28, 1898. 




jfree IReltglous Basociatton 



Raphael's Saint Cecilia at 



Bologna. 

CHALLENGE of celestial art 



l\ Doth through the aether fall, 
And, like a well-tuned harp, my heart 
Makes answer to its call. 

The breath of God is in this sky, 

So limpid and so blue ; 
His radiance, streaming from on high, 

Lights up the world anew. 




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Souvenir jfesttval D^mne 



The music of the circling spheres 

That hasten not, nor rest, 
Insensible to mortal ears, 

Wakes echoes in my breast. 

And thus it whispers, low and sweet : 
" The Highest draweth nigh ; 

Sing, brothers, sing ! with measure meet 
Salute Heaven's majesty." 

— Julia Ward Howe, 

Written for Festival, F. R. A., 
June 2, 1899. 



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Festival Mottoes 



Let knowledge grow from more to more, 
But more of reverence in us dwell, 
That mind and soul, according well, 
May make one music as before, 
But vaster. — Tennyson, 

May 30, 1873. 

To see a World in a grain of sand, 
And a Heaven in a wild flower, 

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, 
And Eternity in an hour. 

— William Blake, 

May 29, 1874. 



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afree IReltgloua Bssoctattcm 



Devoutly look, and naught 

But wonders shall pass by thee ; 

Devoutly read, and then 

All books shall edify thee ; 

Devoutly speak, and men 

Devoutly listen to thee ; 

Devoutly act, and then 

The strength of God acts through thee. 

— Rue c kerf 's "Wisdom of 
the Brahmins" 

May 29, 1874. 

With wider view come loftier goal ! 

With broader light, more good to see ! 
With freedom, more of self-control, 

With knowledge, deeper reverence be ! 

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Souvenir ffesttval /libottoee 



Anew we pledge ourselves to Thee, 

To follow where thy Truth shall lead : 

Afloat upon its boundless sea, 

Who sails with God is safe indeed. 

— Samuel Longfellow, 

June 2, 1876. 

Our God ! our God ! Thou shinest here, 

Thine own this latter day ; 
To us Thy radiant steps appear, 

Here leads thy glorious way ! 

Thou comest near ; Thou standest by ; 

Our work begins to shine ; 
Thou dwellest with us mightily, — 

On come the years divine ! 

— T. H. Gill. 

June 2, 1876. 



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Deep is the wild sea's bottom sweep, 
But hundred thousand times more deep 

Is the vast sweep 
Of thy great pity growing ; 
It reaches from the stars' high throne 
Unto the bottomless ocean's moan ; 

A comb o'erflown 
With the sweetest honey flowing. 

June i, 1877. 

a? 

Our little systems have their day, 

They have their day, and cease to be ; 
They are but broken lights of Thee, 

And Thou, O Lord, art more than they. 

— Tennyson. 



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Souvenir Jfestivml /Iftottoes 



Unless you understand an author's igno- 
rance, conclude yourself ignorant of his un- 
derstanding. — Coleridge. 



A leaf may hide the largest star 

From Love's uplifted eye ; 
A mote of prejudice out-bar 

A world of Charity. 

—John B. Tabb. 



Thus Faith, cast out of barren creeds, 
Shall rest in emblems of her own ; 

Beauty, still springing from Decay, 

The cross-wood budding to the crown. 

— Julia Ward Howe. 



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ffree IReltsious Bssociatton 



He who feels contempt for any living thing 
Hath faculties within his soul which he hath 

never used, 
And thought with him is in its infancy. 

— Wordsworth. 

He who begins by loving Christianity 
better than Truth will continue by loving 
his own sect or party better than Christianity, 
and end by loving himself best of all. 

— Coleridge. 




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